Bather&#39;s safety appliance



Patented Feb. 8, 1927. i

w e ,y temeer mf'STATES ALEXANDER J, LA PIERRE, ornnw Yoan, it, x."

BATHERS arf-.enfance Applicationfiled.l May 259,

The object of myinv-ention is. to aord simple but eective buoyant means for the protection of bathers, swimmers, and those otherwise liable to immersion in water, suitable provision being made for adapting and fitting mysafety appliance to the varying individual requirements of the users,f-and the invention consisting in the specific construction, combination and arrangement of component parts described whereby these and other advantageous resultsare attained, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I illustrate a practical embodiment of the essential features of my invention in a body` appliance .of the character stated, although-I do not limit myself to the identical form and construction of parts and appurtenances shown by way of exemplification, since changes may be made in minor details, and equivalent mechanical expediente resorted to,with likeresults, and without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention in this respect.

With this understanding y Fig. 1, represents a perspective view of my safety appliance as connected up on attachment around the body of a wearer; v

, Fig. 2, is a central Vvertical sectional. elevation thereof; andl Fig. 3, a sectional detail of one ofthe A- float air locks. Y

. are adjustablyconnected by a buckle b The overlapping ends 'of the waist belt B, or equivalent copulative means whereby the'belt may be adapted to the girth of the wearer;

and the medial front portion'of said belt B, is widened to form an abdominal shield which Valso functions as a support for a vseries of snap studs b2, for engagement with a snap socket s, onl the extension strap s', constituting the 4lower extremity of 'the bi- ,furcated front portion s2, of the suspender brace S, the rear ends ofthe shoulder straps S5, s3, of which are formed withv loops s4, s4, embracing the rear bight b2, of the waist belt B, or being otherwise permanently attached thereto, as may be found most expedient. The extension strap-s, is connected with the lower front portion s2, of the suspender brace S, by means of an adjustive device, as for instance the buckle S5, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawings, for the purpose of adapting the meanl length of the suspender S, as related to lthe belt B, the` temporary attachment Abglween the belt '13,

wearer. p ably connecting the chest strap C, with the front portion s2, of the suspender brace S,

1926i semaine; iia42c. '-1

andthesus'penderS, being efected bylmeans` j of the snap fastenings '8,-and Z22.

C, is a chest strap, the rear bight c, of which is slidably connected with'the rear extensions of the vsuspender brace S, by means of loops s6, sf?, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 2, of the drawings,-this connection between the said rear parts beingk provided for the purpose of supporting the chest strap C, in proper relation to the arm pitsof the Provision is also made for detachby a plurality of snap sockets s?, 'thereon for engagement with -a snap stud c, on the chest strap, or by equivalent adjustive means. The length of the chest strap C, is regulated'at the overlapping ends thereof by a buckle c2, as shown vmore in Fig. l, of the drawings. r p It will thus be seen that ample provision is made for fitting the belt B, suspender S, and chest strap C, to the torso of the wearer.

lThe 4body harness equipmentrthus Vattained is designed specifically and primarily forv the mounting and support of the twin wingfloats F, F, which are permanently aiiixed to the back members s", s", ofthe suspender` Vbrace S. These twin floats F, F, of my bathers safety appliance, considered in a unitary sense, are of elongate ovoidal shape,

and may be made-of aluminum or other suitable ymetal or material, or 'of vrrubber, or waterproof fabric adapted for. inflation by air or gas, in which latter event, the ends of Vthe floats F, are provided with air locks'A, such for instance as that shown in Fig.3, of

the drawings, inwhichthe tube a is formed with an internal valve seat a,`for engagement with a gasket e, on the innerend of a stem extension e', of the screw closure cap E, another gasket e2, being interposed between said cap E, andthe end of the tube a, toinsure a positive duplexy seal, thereby obviating all possibility of leakage.

It is tobe noted that the twin wing floats particularly F,'F, are approximately parallel as related i to each other, and their attachment-longitudinally to the rear members-s", s' ,of the suspender brace S, affords them'freedom of lat- 'eral play or movement independent of the person and without inconvenience ory discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, this .longitudinal extension and attachment ofv floats is most effectivey inaflording proper. and adequate body support, substantially parallel with and on each side of the main portion of the spine of the Wea-rer.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Lettersvlatent, is d As an improved article of manufacture, a safety appliance of the character designated, comprising an adjustable Waist belt formed with an abdominal shield, a bifurcated sus# pender brace the front member of which is l0 connected With said abdominal shield by ad- V4tive chest strap loose-connected with the rear'members of said` suspender brace and adjustable `on the front member thereof, and wing floats attached to the rear members of said suspender brace between the belt and the chest strap, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. n

ALEXANDER J. LAPIERRE. 

